She got Mother-Theresa-like into my cab in her brown dress and said:

“To Saint Augustine Cathedral, on Broadway.”

Saint Augustine was on the other side of town; at least a thirty-dollar ride. Praise the Lord.

“Nice morning, huh?” I said.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Another blessed day.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

“How long you been driving a cab?”

“Seems like since the world began.”

“You must like it.”

I didn’t say anything to that.

Then she asked me: “Do you know what traveling mercies are?”

“I think I saw them on YouTube once.”

“Traveling mercies are a gift from God that can be given from one person to another.”

“Huh.”

“Well,” she said, “if you will permit me, I would like to bestow upon you some traveling mercies.”

“This isn’t gonna hurt, is it?” I said.

“No. It will calm your soul.”

“All right, then.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and said, “I bestow upon you many traveling mercies for this day and the days to follow.”

“That’s it?” I said.

“That’s pretty much it,” she said.

“Okay. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Everyone deserves some traveling mercies. It’s a crazy world out there.”

“Amen, sister.”

***

This is an excerpt from Mather Schneider’s new memoir, 6 to 6. You can purchase the book from Terror House Press here.